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Columbia Student Activist Freed as Hunger Strikes Sweep Campuses Over Palestine Speech Rights

Left 20% Center coverage: 5 sources Right

New York, USA

May 17, 2025 0 Negative General

Social Issues & Justice Sponsor this article

New York, USA: Mohsen Mahdawi, a Palestinian-American Columbia student arrested last month, was released from ICE detention following public outcry. His detention sparked campus hunger strikes at multiple universities, demanding administration support for pro-Palestine speech. Student demonstrators also call for divestment from firms supplying Israeli military efforts. Mahdawi alleges ICE targeted him for political activism, intensifying debate over free speech and academic freedom on U.S. campuses.

What this means for you:

•	If you or your peers engage in political advocacy, be aware of potential legal or immigration implications
•	University policies might face scrutiny—students at other campuses could push for divestment or expanded protest rights
•	Hunger strikes are extreme tactics; if you’re involved, monitor your health and coordinate with supporters for safe protest

Key Entities

• Mohsen Mahdawi: Palestinian-American student activist detained by ICE
• Columbia University: Campus where daily rallies occurred
• Student Hunger Strikers: Protesters at Yale, Stanford, UCLA, and CSU demanding free speech on Palestine

Bias Distribution

Left: 60% (3 sources)

Center: 20% (1 source)

Right: 20% (1 source)

Multi-Perspective Analysis

Left-Leaning View

Condemns federal overreach silencing pro-Palestine voices

Centrist View

Details the protests and legal backdrop

Right-Leaning View

Some see activism as anti-Israel rhetoric and endorse enforcement

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